Bed-frame.



A. McKNIGHT.

BED FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I0, I`9I3.

Pat

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THE I'ORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOT0-LITHO'WASHING1UN. DA C @En sans naar oren.

ALEXANDER McKNIG-I-IT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

, BEDeFR/AME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed February 10, 1913. Serial No. 747,411.

To all whom t may concern:

- swiveled to the sides which securely hold the bed frame in normal position, but permit it to be collapsed or folded by a horizontal angular movement of the end members relative to the side rails.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive structure of this character in which the bed frame is rigidly held in normal position but which may be easily and quickly folded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a corner bracket or connectingv member which will permanently hold the legs or standards rigid with the side rails, and which will combine cheapness of construction, simplicity, strength, durability, 'and a minimum weight.

The bed frame may be easily and quickly folded to economize space, permit sweeping of the Hoor, etc., and can also be readily taken apart and set up again.

Other objects of the invention and the exact nature thereof will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the principles of my invention, Figure l is a perspectivey view of a bed frame. Fig. 2 isan enlarged sectional elevation showing the connecting means at a corner of the bed frame. Fig. 3 is a similar view of an alternative construction. Fig. il is an elevation view of one of the ends of the bed frame. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views in end and side elevation respectively, illustrating an alternative form of side rail. Fig. 7 is a view of a coupling which may be used to support the side `frames, when the ends are removed. Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the side frames so supported. Fig. 9 is a plan view ofthefbed frame folded, and also showing in dotted lines the frame partly folded. f

The bed frame comprises side rails 1, legs 2, corner brackets or couplings 3, and end frames 4, 5. The couplings 3 are inthe form of T couplings having their lower ends internally screw-threaded to receive the threaded 'Lipper ends of the legs or standards 2. The lateral extensions 6 of the' couplings are likewise threaded to receive the threaded ends of the side rails 1. A

strong'and rigid permanent connection is thus formed between the side rails and the legs of the bed, which together may be considered as constituting the side frames. These side frames are connected by end frames t and 5, each of which comprises vertical end members 7 adapted to extend through the couplings 3 and telescope with f the legs 2. The end members 7 may consist of tubular coupling pins or tenons rigidly secured in the frames 4f by rivet bolts 8 or in any other suitable manner. The lower ends 9 of the members 7 are preferably beveled or tapered to assist in guiding the end frames when they are being connected to the side frames. rlhe members 7 have a free telescopic connection with the legs so 'that the end frames can be readily lifted and removed from the side frames, but they are a sufficiently close fit to firmly hold the bed frame rigid. rFhe downward movement of the end frames 4E and 5 is limited by pins 10 secured in the members 7 and adapted to seat in recesses ll formed in the upper edges of the couplings 3. The pins l0 entering the notches ll serve the double purpose of limiting the downward movement of the end frames and holding them against angular movement relatively to the side frames in a horizontal direction.

The bed frame is adapted to be folded or collapsed by an angular or twisting movement of the end frames relatively to the side frames in a horizontal direction. Thus, a person `standing at one end of the bed can by turning the end frame fold the bed to the position shown in Fig. 9. The end .frames will be cammed upward by the holding pins riding up the inclined sides of the notches 11 at the beginning of the folding movement, after which the frame will move freely to the folded position. If preferred, the holding pins 10 may be supplied at only one end of the bed, so that by lifting said end upward a short distance the holding pins will be freed and offer no resistance to the folding movement of the frame. lf desired notches l1 as shown in Fig. 3 can be used instead of the notches 11. The notches l1 are formed with perpendicular sides to form a positive lock. The pins l() may be round as shown, or shaped to conform to the notches 11 or 11.

The ends 4 and 5 may be made `of metal tubing of the same diameter as the legs 2, as shown in Figs. l and 2, or said ends may be made of smaller tubing that will telescope with the legs as indicated in Fig. 3, thereby dispensing with the additional connecting pieces 7 As indicated in Fig. 4, one vertical arm of each endframe is preferably somewhat longer than the other to assist in assembling the bed frame The longer arm is inserted first and supports one side frame and permits the other arm to be readily guided and inserted in its socket. rI`he end frame 5 at the foot of the bed as shown in Fig. l, rises only a short distance above the couplings 3 which is a valuable feature yfor an invalids 1ned, and the like. A higher frame like the head frame 4 can of course be used at the foot of the bed if preferred. If desired the side rails may be made of angle irons 21 (Figs. 5 and 6) to which tubular end pieces 22 are rigidly secured by rivet bolts 23. The end pieces 22 may correspond to the ends of the rails'l.

wWhen the bed is located in a small room or where there is insufficient room to accommodate ,the increased length of the frame when folded, I employ a holder 15 to support the side frames in the positionshown in Fig. 8. frame to be quickly folded or adjusted to a position where it will take up but little space. To apply the holder 15, one end frame, as 5, is removed, the adjacent ends of the side rails brought nearly together, and the ends of the holder l5 dropped down into the sockets 3. T he head frame 4 can then be removed and the adjacent ends of the side frames swung toward each other to the position shown in Fig. 8. The holder l5 holds the side frames securely in an upright position.

Grnamental collars 24 may be placed on the end frames in position to rest on the couplings 3 if desired.

I wish not to be limited to the particular features of construction herein disclosed as various modifications might be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l; A collapsible bed frame comprising the combination of side rails, legs rigidly secured thereto, and end members extending between and having a swivel connection vwith said legs permitting a relative pivotal movement of the sides and ends of the frame to move the sides toward each other and swing the ends toward positions in line with This device permits the bed the sides, said end members being bodily rmovable to entirely disconnect the side rails from each other and from the end members.

Y2. A collapsible bed frame, comprising the combination of sides, uprights secured thereto and formed with vertical sockets, connecting members forming the ends of the frame, said members each having depending ends extending into said sockets and rotatable therein while theends are both connected to each of the sides toA permit the sides to be brought together and the ends to swing toward a position of alinement with the sides.

3. In a folding bed frame, the combination of sides, corner uprights secured thereto andl formed with vertical sockets, and end members each having depending ends entering the sockets and uniting the sides and end members to form a rectangular frame, the said depending ends being rotatable in the sockets while the sides and end members are thus united to permit'the frame to be folded, said depending ends and sockets comprising means to hold the frame in normal open po-l sition, said holding means being releasable to permit the frame to be folded.

4. In a folding bed frame, the combination of the sides, uprights at the corners of the frame formed with vertical sockets, and end members having depending ends entering --the sockets and permitting relative pivotal movement of the sides and end members while said sides and end members are united to form a frame, thereby per` mitting the frame to be folded, said ends and sockets comprising means to hold the end members perpendicular to the sides, said holding means vbeing releasable by an upward movement of an end member without disconnecting it from its sockets.

5. In a folding bed frame, the combination of sides, uprights at the ends of the said sides, said uprights formed with vertical sockets, end members having depending ends entering the sockets to connect the sides and end members, and permitting relative pivotal movement of the sides and end members while thus connected, to thereby fold the frame, and means to hold the end members perpendicular' to the Y sides, said holding comprising cams formed to permit lsaid members to be released by pressure in a direction to produce said pivotal movement.

6. In a bed frame, the combination of side rails, uprights, means rigidly connecting the uprights to the side rails, said uprights having their upper ends hollow to form sockets, end' members having depending ends entering the sockets and thereby pivotally connecting the end members to said uprights, and pins carried by said members and entering notches in the uprights to hold the parts against said pivotal movement.

7 In a bed fra-me, the combination of side rails, legs, corner brackets each comprising an upright tubular portion rigidly connected with a leg and an integral horizontal portion rigidly connected with the end of a side rail so that each side rail with its connected brackets and legs forms an independent unit, and end members having depending ends extending through said upright tubular portions of the brackets and nesting within the legs and thereby connecting the sides to form a frame, the end members being removable from said units and the latter thereby disconnected from each other.

8. In a bed frame, the combination of side rails, legs, corner brackets or couplings each comprising a horizontal screw-threaded socket with which the end of a side rail has a screw-threaded connection and a Vertical tubular portion integral with said socket, and frame ends having depending portions freely entering said tubular portions of the couplings, so that the ends may be lifted bodily from the couplings and leave the side rails entirely disconnected from each other. 9. A folding bed frame comprising the combination of sides and ends connected by C'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,r by addressing the vertical pivots, said sides and ends relatively movable about said pivots to fold the frame, and horizontal locking pins, engaging notches formed in the frame, said notches and pins locking the bed frame in open or non-folded position, said pins releasable from the notches by an upward movement of the ends relative to sides to permit the frame to be folded.

l0. In a bed, the combination of sides comprising side rails and legs rigidly secured thereto, and ends having vertical members swiveled in said legs and connecting the sides and holding them upright, the ends being vertically removable to disconnect the sides, one of said members of each end being longer than the other to facilitate the assembling of the bed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER McKNIGrI-IT.

Witnesses:

J. F. RULE, V. D. MACUMBER.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

